Emirates NBD, one of the UAE's leading banking institutions, has achieved a historic milestone by crossing the Dh1 trillion mark on its balance sheet during the first quarter of 2025, underpinned by strong performance from its international operations and robust deposit inflows.
The bank reported a 56% quarter-on-quarter surge in pre-tax profit, reaching Dh7.8 billion, as it capitalized on improved lending activity, enhanced deposit mix, and continued rollout of new banking products.
Net profit for the quarter also climbed 56% compared to Q4 2024, standing at Dh6.2 billion. However, on a year-on-year basis, net profit was marginally lower than Dh6.7 billion recorded in Q1 2024.
Overseas Operations Fuel Loan Growth
Much of the momentum came from Emirates NBD’s expanding international network, which accounted for more than half of the Dh18 billion increase in loans during the quarter. The performance underscores the bank's long-term strategy of geographic diversification, with overseas operations now playing a significant role in revenue and asset growth.
Deposits See Record Gains
The lender also reported strong deposit inflows, with overall deposits growing by 5%, driven by a record Dh27 billion increase in current and savings account balances. The surge in low-cost deposit accounts is viewed as a positive signal for future margin stability.
“The key fundamentals — lending momentum, deposit mix improvements, and successful product rollouts — are all aligning to drive strong financial results,”
said a senior financial analyst tracking UAE banking stocks.
Strategic Significance
Crossing the Dh1 trillion balance sheet threshold marks a pivotal moment for Emirates NBD and the wider UAE banking sector, reflecting not only the size of the institution but also the scale of confidence in the bank’s diversified strategy amid global financial uncertainties.
The latest results place Emirates NBD among an exclusive tier of regional banks achieving trillion-dirham scale, reaffirming Dubai’s growing role as a financial hub with regional and international influence.
As Emirates NBD continues to grow its international footprint, analysts expect further performance gains in the quarters ahead, particularly in markets where the bank is building new lending and retail operations. Continued innovation in digital banking and wealth management products is also expected to enhance profitability and customer engagement.
